Krugman - Health Care: Game On

[ProSense]

Health Care: Game On

Well, this certainly sounds like it’s a go. That’s the style, Mr. President!

If this works out — I’d think the odds now are that it will, though it’s by no means a done deal — there will be endless debate about whether Anthem Blue Cross was wot did it. My sense is that a final push was always available, as long as the White House was willing to take a stand; Anthem may just have helped provide an occasion.

Extra dividend: Jonathan Chait is right, conservatives will freak out. They’ve already been celebrating the defeat of HCR, failing to notice that Democrats have actually passed a bill in both houses, and still have a huge majority. And there will be cries of foul play — how dare Democrats actually follow the Constitution!

And if health care passes, and job numbers turn positive, November may be very different from what the Tea Party expects.

[rockymountaindem]

1. So the forcible delivery of the public to the tender mercies of the very instigators of this crisis

is back on? Yippee!

:sarcasm:

[ProSense]

2. No,

this is back on.

:bounce:

[rockymountaindem]

5. I don't see a lot of content there

I see an explanation by Sanders about why the PO is important. Nobody here disputes that. But remember that he voted for the Senate bill that contained no public option, and then spent a fair bit of time trying to explain to people like us why that Senate bill (with the individual mandate but no public option escape hatch) was still better than nothing. I wouldn't be surprised if he was trying to revive the public option at least in the form of a fig leaf, but what kind of PO are we likely to get even if this attempt during reconciliation succeeds? Will it be one that is restrictive and covers few, as it had been whittled down to just prior to its first demise? Or will it be the so-called "robust" public option that anyone can buy into, even if they are already covered through work and wish to decline their employer's coverage? We'll see. If the revived public option is so highly limited as to be ineffective, it is still better than nothing because perhaps we can enlarge it as time goes on. But I'm not going to jump for joy about any of this yet.

[daleanime]

3. Remember to call your congress criters...

We need to get more names on that letter.:woohoo:

[kstewart33]

4. Hoping that Krugman is right. If recon works with HCR,

why not use it again and again with major legislation?

If we go down in flames in November, at least we will have gotten some real things done.

[BlueIdaho]

7. Damn straight.

Nothing succeeds like success.

[tavalon]

6. Game should have never been off

I'll believe it when I see it. Too much talk, not enough walk for my taste.

[girl gone mad]

8. Mandates with no strong public option = Democratic death knell.

[depakid]

13. Plus no tangible benefits for years...

If Democrats pas the corrupt Senate bill in anything resembling its current form- and especially without an ostensibly effective public option- they're in for a royal thumping- and one that will be well deserved.

[Cha]

9. But, but, but..limpbaugh

told them it was over..krauthammer said it done..:cry::cry::nopity::nopity:

[annabanana]

10. pshaw... conservatives have been "freaking out" since 2006.

I don't think anyone pays any attention to them now except Fox..(and nervous Dem leadership staffers)

[BeyondGeography]

11. The greed of the payment processors masquerading as insurers is a beautiful thing

In the face of such shamelessness, the Democratic Party is certifiably worthless if it does nothing to balance the scales.

[timeforpeace]

12. Calling it a game is ironically appropriate.

[bertman]

14. If a strong healthcare reform bill doesn't pass there's gonna be HELL to pay in November.